Citing Criminal Procedure Law, MICAT reacts to Radio Bushrod’s 48-hr ultimatum
After the Management of D-15 Radio issued a two-day ultimatum to the Government of Liberia to provide the indictment that could substantially ban talk show host, Henry P. Costa, from relaying his daily podcast, The Costa Show, on the local radio station, the Government of Liberia, through the Information Ministry, says said ultimatum is considered as a form of threat and therefore the station’s Management should reconsider the gravity of such statement as it has the potential to undermine the rule of law and create unnecessary tension.
Veteran journalists warn
Frank Sainworla and Philip N. Wesseh, two well experienced, respected and veteran Liberian journalists, have frowned on the Liberian government for placing a âPrior Restraintâ on Henry Costa for his proposal to relay his talk show, the âCosta Showâ, on Radio Bushrod (D-15 FM) in Monrovia. Philip Wesseh is the Publisher of The Inquirer newspaper, while Frank Sainworla is the Publisher of News Public Trust, an online news outlet.
On the âOK FM Morning Rush,â a hugely followed early morning talk show, Sainworla and Wesseh said that government should have acted through quiet diplomacy rather than coming to the public through a press statement from the Ministry of Information.
CEMESP Says Govât’s Decision Violates Constitution
Barely a day after the Government of Liberia threatened to shut down D-15 Radio if Talk-Show Host Henry P. Costa appears on it for his vocal and politically inflammatory discussion, the management of the radio has given the government a 48-hours ultimatum to publish Costaâs indictment or turn down the media blackout against him (Costa).
On the evening of Sunday, January 17, 2021, the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism issued a communication calling on the management of D-15 Radio not to air anything from Mr. Costa, whom the Ministry considers a âFugitive.â
Henry Costa (right) denied the government s accusations and cast the blame squarely on the Weah administration s refusal to issue him a license an issue that questions President Weah s (left) resolve for press freedom despite decriminalizing free speech.
The government of President George Weah has threatened to shut down Radio D-15 hours after Henry Costa announced his return to the local airways via the Logan Town-based radio station.
The government’s move comes a year and a half after it forcefully closed down Costa’s Roots FM for operating without a license, although, according to court records, Costa’s broadcast license application had been submitted and was delayed indefinitely. The closure of Roots FM took place on the same day the talk show host, who has become the President’s fiercest critic, was on air discussing alleged wasteful spending by the Liberian leaders and other bad governance issues.